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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 18h

Thank you for the boost. 🥲

Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 19h

Yes the formula is the same, except that putting a serial killer in a sweet romance is a tonal shift that is often discordant and pisses viewers off. If you signed up to a thriller with a romance subplot that's a whole different matter.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 1d

Here's the Anisa's article on K-drama murder romcoms:

www.mentmagazine.com/issue002/mur...

The Rise of the Murder Rom-Com — MENT Magazine

Anisa Khalifa examines what the murder rom-com reveals about the fears, desires, and realities of women living under the persistent threat of gendered violence. 

www.mentmagazine.com

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 1d

My friend @anisa.bsky.social wrote this excellent piece on the presence of serial killers in romantic K-dramas for MENT magazine a while back, and then we recorded a pod talking more about it:

I'll link the article in the post below. Here's our podcast:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

The Rise of the Murder Rom-Com in K-Dramas

Podcast Episode · Dramas Over Flowers · 10/23/2025 · 1h 37m

podcasts.apple.com

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 1d

are a freak of nature. They do whatever the heck they like and the audience would better get on board. 😄

No, they're also worried abt attention but their primary goal is messaging. Is it coming through?

Netflix is trying to change this by putting K dirs & prods in charge of their J projects tho.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 1d

usually gives relationships more natural time to develop.

At 12-16 eps K is very insecure about audience attention. Also maybe because of higher prod cost. So the pack stories with frequent conflict. This usually works in the first half and then gets exhausting by the second.

J at 10 eps (cont)

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 1d

My favourite difference between the three is story structures and pacing.

Because of their differing lengths (ep count+ run time) K, C, and J are paced differently.

With 30-40eps, C takes its time to tell the story. This can sometimes backfire in the hands of inept writers, but (cont)

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 3d

Muahaha correct.

Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 5d

Especially with old school type dramas getting a non-jerk hero is an unexpected surprise. Our wariness is justified. Wooshik is sweet tho. And matches really well with Somin.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 5d

Would you marry me, so far, has been such a nice revisit to 2017s romcom kdrama era.

Minus the unnecessary stress. Our male lead is a grumpy teddy bear with sense and sensitivity. Our female lead is mildly bumbling but not a fool. Every time she stands up for herself she leaves a mile long burn.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 7d

It became a matter of national pride. And international fans kinda just took it as a fact since domestic audiences were saying it. It can happen. Most of us aren't exactly directly communicating with Korean fans. A lot of it becomes hearsay.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 7d

HCCC is an adaptation of an old Korean movie which in turn is also an adaptation 🤣. But nevermind that. I think what happened in this specific case is that HCCC was super popular in South Korea and fans hated the idea that China can also have a very successful show w the same theme 1/2

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 7d

I expect that at this point. I mostly just want to revisit the characters and see what they're up to. Which is what I love about more relaxed longer episode counts. They can't sustain high tension so they don't bother with it. 🙈

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 7d

Yes I loved him in it. Been planning to watch the second season but haven't gotten to it yet.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 7d

👌

Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Oooh please please watch Happiness! I think you'll like it. It's not at all whatever you might think it is from the outside. Just go in blind. It's great. Seriously. Also let me know how you find the ML. 😂

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Ahhh yes I loved MY for all of these reasons. It's also - to my mind - the beginning of drama creators more deliberately structuring stories focused on relationships and characters instead of plot events. I have long had an essay pending on this that I need to get out into the world. 🤣

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Ooh let me know how RA works for you.

(I was both impressed and a bit disturbed by Han Hyo-joo. Her ability to turn Japanese in mannerisms and delivery is crazy but also kinda hurt the character for me.)

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

It's far too long I know. But I was so blown away by the show. 😂 I loved both leads a lot, especially because they were so imperfect and real. Definitely prioritise sleep tho.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

He's very different in WLIS from other roles he's done. It's the first time I realised he had range. 😅 But yeah I loved both MY and WLIS. I like that the perfect cdrama male lead and the hedgehog who makes bad decisions exists parallely.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Of course I loved him in WLIS 🤣. That came out after Meet Yourself.

Here's long form proof of my love if anyone needs it. I made while it was airing.

youtu.be/7ZKXSTiEnio?...

Will Love In Spring has a prickly couple with excellent chemistry (spoiler review)

YouTube video by The Drama Notes

youtu.be

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Ah having read the thread now, I'm on James' corner with this. The plagiarism accusations were nonsense. There's nothing in the story formats that were the same except for the FL leaving city life for a rural one. Perfectly okay not to enjoy either or both tho. I didn't love HTCC but MY is my jam.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 8d

Halo. Haven't read the thread above but just popping in to defend myself 🤣. I don't dislike him at all. I love Li Xian in MY. The first drama of his I liked after Go Go Squid. I just understood what set Uncle Robin off.

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 9d

See Flourished Peony for lots more goofy smiling, only less benign. 🤣

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Paroma @thedramanotes.bsky.social · 9d

I would rather we all be wary of perfect MLs and FLs than spend time defending fictional characters. 🤣

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